My horse has started to get pretty bad about cutting corners and bulging on the rail. He seems to do it most towards the end of a ride - when he's trying to tell me he's done. I've been using inside leg, outside rein and sitting more balanced - but not completely working. I checked out the videos on your site and seems like the thing to try next might be reverse psychology. When he wants to turn in or cut corners - work him in circles to the inside. I've done a bit of that - but not consistently so will keep at it. Let me know if you have any other tips or tricks!! Thanks so much!!
Rewards
Subscribe to Equus Online University and become a part of Monty's worldwide mission to leave the world a better place for horses and for people too.
Students automatically gain access to special rewards, such as exclusive discounts at the Monty Roberts Online Shop. Visit Monty Roberts Online Shop.
Hi Debbie,
Welcome to the UNI and to the forum!
From what I read above, I can see that you've been searching in the "right" direction, the videos that deal with the problem of cutting corners can be of great help to you.
What you mention in your forelast sentence might be the "trick" you're looking for:
- you have to be consistent! EVERY TIME, means everytime, your horse tries to cut the corner, you have to react in the same, quiet, consistent way....
Now your horse might have a message for you, he tries to tell you that he's done for today, still you'll have to correct the behavior, but listen to what he has to say!
Always end on a positive note, this is what the horse will remember from the lesson.
Monty says number 2 in working with horses is that you have fun.
Number 1 is that the horse has fun!
Good luck and keep us posted,
Miriam
Thank you so much! While I have you - he's also got a nasty habit of pawing while cross-tied. Especially when you walk away from him. He's a very smart horse and I sense I've been encouraging the behavior every time I yell at him and tell him to stop. He's getting the attention he wants. What are your tips and tricks for fixing this? I've heard ignoring them can work - basically turning your back to them when they're pawing and only approaching and rewarding once they've stopped. Any thoughts?
Hello Debbie and welcome to the forum and the UNI. In reading about the difficulties with your horse, I think that Miriam knocks it out of the park with her suggestion about putting your horse in circles and having fun.. Really look at the FUN part of her answer. When our horses are having fun, life is better.
The pawing while being cross-tied sounds to me like the advent of separation anxiety. You might take a few days to work on this. Untie him, then proceed to back him down the isle a few times and then retie and see how long he stands quietly as you leave him. Horse don`t, as a rule, like to backed-up over long distances[negative instant consequences]. If my guess is right about SA, then this is a fear-based problem that has to be over-come by him developing confidence to stand quietly. Help him by giving him the gift of being tied [not always X tied] with a reward after a successful lesson. This is a connection of you two and should be treated in a manner that both of you will reach a point of happiness when re-united after the tieing.
I hope this helps you and again welcome to the forum.
Bud USA
Hi Debbie and welcome. Great advice as always from Miriam and Bud. I shall add a little bit for what it's worth :-)
1. I am not a fan of cross tying - it's very restrictive for the horse - they need the freedom to move around a bit; might explain why he's pawing
2. You are right not to yell - yelling is just a lesser form of violence that shows anger so does little to help your partnership but I do understand that it is frustrating. You are also right when you say ignoring works - it really does but oh god humans find it so difficult to do :-) Think about what makes him paw - what are the triggers? How long after he is tied does it start? etc.
:
I worked with a friend's mare who used to kick hell out of the door everytime the food was coming. So, as I walked towards her stable, if she kicked I treated her as "Oh, you don't want this, you want me to go away, ok!" (she was very smart too!) So I walked away, hid round the corner for 1 minute, then approached the stable again...she kicked, I did the same again. After 4 times of doing this (about 7 minutes in all) as I approached, I could see her thinking...she stepped away from the door, and in I walked with the food..."Ah, that's how I get her to bring the food in" - Your horse is clearly good at training you, so mess with his head a bit and let him "train" you to do what you want him to do!! Have fun and smile, no yelling! :-)
Hi Debbie. Welcome. PLEASE reread your post in the light of the advice that has already been offered. If he paws when cross tied because he's concerned, do you believe shouting at him will help him? Be calm, be consistent, be fair - he will thank you & trust you like you could never imagine & give so much more of himself to you. Go to the archives of the forum, in the last couple of years. You'll find info on my little herd, Holy Moley, rising 2, her full brother Kirk, rising 3, their sire, now gelded, Humphrey & Max, the unrelated Welsh A gelding with cushings disease. I came to Montys concepts late in life, my mid fifties. The first time I touched Moley she was still wet from being born - my Bella was that trusting & firework proof to boot! You can't use Montys methods as a short cut - be Mrs Nice one minute & go conventional, smack his bum when he doesn't understand/react the next. Study all the lessons. Become the person your horse wants for a partner & I guarantee - coz mine have shown me, all of them, you'll be a better horse woman, a better owner & a better person. Keep posting as we are all here to help you. Cheers, Jo.
Thanks all - very good advice. Re: the "have fun" idea - are you suggesting that when my horse starts bulging and acting out at the end of the ride it might be because he's not having fun anymore? Should I listen to him and quit? Or should I maybe try to do something he enjoys more vs. circling the rail and end the ride on a high note doing something he likes? I think I know the answer to the question - but I does help to get the verification from you guys. :)
Hi Debbie, often times when we as trainers-riders are trying to develop a certain aspect of how we would like our horse to preform in a particular situation [riding down the rail] we sometimes lose sight of the horse and who he is and what he may need at that particular time. The "WE" connection is more about the 'ME' and what I want you to do at this time. As leaders of these magnificent animals, we must attempt to keep that original connection that we have with our horse alive and well. Working with horses on a routine basis can become mundane for the horse if we are not careful of our approach with him each time. If we are driving our horse toward a higher level of performance, sometimes we can be trapped by that aspect of the training for that performance and forget about the frame of mind that our horse is in. Remember what horses really like to do [their comfort zone]. This is a round about way of saying "GO ON A TRAIL RIDE" and just BE with your horse. When your horse is relaxed and enjoying your company as a rider, his mind will open-up and the WANT TO will hopefully come forth. I hope that this will help you. Remember, our horses approach the great out doors differently than arena work. Bud USA
Nice reply Bud, with you on that all the way. ;) x